V8 Supercars driver Cameron Hill will zipline off a Canberra office building to raise funds for the Canberra Hospitals Foundation. Photo: Canberra Hospital Foundation.
Even though he regularly exceeds 250 km/h in his V8-powered racecar, Cameron Hill is “certainly not a daredevil”.
Never mind the fact he’s racing at Bathurst’s Mount Panorama circuit this weekend, the Canberra-born V8 Supercars champion is more fearful about what he’s about to do on 17 October – plunging off an office building near the Canberra Airport.
Hill is taking part in this year’s ‘Big Wig Challenge’ fundraiser for the Canberra Hospitals Foundation (CHF) by ziplining across the Brindabella Business Park’s town square.
“I’m on the ground when I’m racing,” he says.
“I think it’s just because I started racing when I was very young, and you almost condition yourself to believe driving at speed is an appropriate thing to do – but jumping off buildings doesn’t feel appropriate to me.
“But I hear the zipline equipment is obviously very capable … and I’m in good company.”
Other participants include Richard Snow, Head of Property of Canberra Airport and Capital Property Group, and philanthropist and businesswoman Deb Rolfe, among many others.
Not-for-profit CHF was founded in 2011 to support public hospitals and health services throughout Canberra by offering a “caring, world-class health and healing service” for patients, their families, and carers.
Entirely funded by donations, CHF invites Canberra’s business leaders, charity heads and other local leaders to get on board with a high-flying fundraising event each year.
Last September, the Big Wig Challenge saw dozens of people abseil down the side of the Canberra Hospital’s orange-tiled Building 8.
Abseiling off a Canberra Hospital building for last year’s fundraiser. Photo: Canberra Hospital Foundation.
Hill, who has previously fanged his V8 Camaro down the tarmac at Canberra Airport as part of a promotion for the annual Canberra Festival of Speed, heard about the challenge during a “catch-up” with Canberra Airport management and was immediately down for it.
Like almost everyone in the region, Hill’s family has a connection with Canberra hospitals.
“My brother-in-law sadly passed away from an aggressive form of bone cancer back in 2023, but he was really fortunate to spend some time at Canberra’s hospice, Clare Holland House, and that was lovely – being able to join him there and spend time with him,” Hill says.
After his death, Hill reached out to his network to rally funds for a new “cuddle bed” at the hospice.
“There were only a couple of these beds, big enough that two people can lie on it with their loved one. So it was something really close to our hearts that we were able to do.”
For this year’s zipline challenge, each participant commits to raising at least $5000 for CHF, with a total target of $150,000. Hill is currently sitting at nearly $3000 raised, but that’s likely to skyrocket this weekend at Bathurst.
“We’ll have the Big Wig Challenge sticker on the racecar this weekend, and we’re going to be promoting here at Bathurst, so hopefully we can smash our target.”
Cameron Hill with his parents, Colin and Helen. Photo: James Coleman.
Putting aside the glamour of the trophies and podium finishes, Hill says having cancer in the family has had lasting impacts on how he approaches life.
“It’s quite humbling,” he says.
“I think we sometimes get very caught up in just the day-to-day busyness of our lives. But then something like this touches you – it just sort of reminds you to be really grateful and appreciative for the little things in life, because they’re the important things at the end of the day.”
Donate to the ‘Big Wig Challenge’ on the CHF website.
